[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 7, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3963-S3964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

 SENATE RESOLUTION 261--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT PUBLIC 
SERVANTS SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND CONTINUED SERVICE 
          TO THE NATION DURING PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK

  Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Levin, Mr. 
Lieberman, Mr. Voinovich, Ms. Collins, and Mr. Thompson) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 261

       Whereas Public Service Recognition Week provides an 
     opportunity to honor and celebrate the commitment of 
     individuals who meet the needs of the Nation through work at 
     all levels of government;
       Whereas over 20,000,000 men and women work in government 
     service in every city, county, and State across America and 
     in hundreds of cities abroad;
       Whereas the United States of America is a great and 
     prosperous Nation, and public service employees have 
     contributed significantly to that greatness and prosperity;
       Whereas Americans benefit daily from the knowledge and 
     skills of these highly trained individuals;
       Whereas public servants--
       (1) help the Nation recover from natural disasters and 
     terrorist attacks;
       (2) fight crime and fire;
       (3) deliver the mail;
       (4) teach and work in the schools;
       (5) deliver Social Security and Medicare benefits;
       (6) fight disease and promote better health;
       (7) protect the environment and national parks;
       (8) improve transportation and the quality of water and 
     food;
       (9) build and maintain roads and bridges;
       (10) provide vital strategic and support functions to our 
     military;
       (11) keep the Nation's economy stable;
       (12) defend our freedom; and
       (13) advance United States interests around the world;
       Whereas public servants at the Federal, State, and local 
     level are the first line of defense in maintaining homeland 
     security;
       Whereas for every essential service disrupted by the 
     terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, public servants 
     responded quickly and effectively, many giving their lives 
     for their country;
       Whereas public servants demonstrated once again on 
     September 11, 2001, that civil servants at every level of 
     government are decent, hard-working men and women, committed 
     to doing a good job regardless of the circumstances;
       Whereas America's Federal employees have risen to the 
     occasion and demonstrated professionalism, dedication, and 
     courage during the attacks of September 11, 2001, and in 
     their aftermath;
       Whereas after September 11, 2001, thousands of Federal 
     employees were deployed in

[[Page S3964]]

     disaster response teams, and government employees continue to 
     contribute in the war on terrorism as a part of their normal 
     duties;
       Whereas each agency has a role in ensuring that the Nation 
     is secure and prosperous despite renewed attention to those 
     agencies which are directly fighting the war on terrorism;
       Whereas May 6 through 12, 2002, has been designated Public 
     Service Recognition Week to honor America's Federal, State, 
     and local government employees; and
       Whereas Public Service Recognition Week will be celebrated 
     through job fairs, student activities, and agency exhibits: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends government employees for their outstanding 
     contributions to this great Nation;
       (2) salutes their unyielding dedication and spirit for 
     public service;
       (3) honors those public servants who have given their lives 
     in service to their country.
       (4) calls upon a new generation of workers to consider a 
     career in public service as an honorable profession; and
       (5) encourages efforts to promote public service careers at 
     all levels of government.

                          ____________________